Improvement in modesof finishing the soles of boots and shoes



B. s. BRYANT.

Improvement in Modes of Finishing the Soles of Boots and Shoes.

Patented Feb. 6,1872.

BRADLEY S. BRYANT, OF HANSON, MASSACHUSETTS IMPROVEMENT IN MODES OFFINISHING THE SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,450, dated February6, 1872.

T0 allpersons to whom these presents shall come:

Be it known that LBRADLEY S. BRYANT, of Hanson, in the county ofPlymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and ImprovedMode of Finishing the Soles of Boots and Shoes; and that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of boots and shoes, to give the requisitefinish to the outer or treading surface of the soles, heels, and shanks,the operation of scraping and buffin g, and in some cases of channeling,to hide the stitches from view, were resorted to and performed, as iswell known to all conversant with the boot and shoe manufacture. Theseseveral operations, while adding greatly to the cost of manufacture andreally securing no other result than a neat and pretty finish to theboot and shoe sole, do cause, more especial ly the scraping, a waste andloss of the enamel side of the leather, which is the best por tion,reducing the length of time which the sole will wear at least a week, asestimated by boot and shoe manufacturers.

The object of this invention is to dispense with the several processesheretofore employed to finish boot and shoe soles, to economize time andlabor, and to save the enameled surface of the sole-leather; and forthis purpose the invention consists in finishing the sole to a boot orshoe either in whole or in part by applying thereto, through the mediumof a cement or other suitable adhesive material-preferably a water-proofcementa flJOk of wool, silk,cot ton, hair, or other suitable material,or any dis integrated or finely-pulverized substance or materialsuitable.

In carrying out my invention I take a boot 0r shoe, when sufficientlyadvanced to have its sole finished by the ordinary modes of manufacture,and, according as the sole is to be finished by my invention, either inwhole or in part, I then apply to the portion to be thus finished acoating of glue or cementby preference a waterproof cement-and then Ithrow therein the flock or powdered material which is to be used. Thecement causes the flock, &c., to adhere to the sole, and thus, coveringit, produces the finish. After applying the flock as above described itis best that the cement should be allowed to dry, and, if desired, aheated or cold smoothing-iron may be passed over the flocked solesurface to give it a more compact, even, and smoother surface.

Among many advantages secured bymy invention may be mentioned thefollowing: That it dispenses with channeling, scraping, and buffing theboot or shoe sole, as heretofore; that it completely covers up thestitches or pegs, as the case may be, the fine condition of thesurfacing material entering into all the interstices about or of thestitches and pegs; that it enables a better, more varied, and moreattractive finish to be given to a boot or shoe sole; and furthermore,by the use of a properly-colored flock, enables the manufacturer to giveto a sole made of hemlock-tanned leather the appearance of oak-tannedleather; that it is at least sixty per cent. cheaper than the ordinarymode of finishing a boot or shoesole; that it is much more permanent anddurable than the ordinary finish, preventing the sole from having soquick as heretofore a shopworn appearance.

In the accompanying plate of drawings is represented a childs boot, thesole of which is finished according to this invention, Figure 1 being aside view, with the sole in longitud I inal vertical section, and Fig. 2a plan view of the treading surface.

A represents, in the drawing, the sole to a childs boot, of which E isthe ball, 0 the shank, and D the heel, the treading surface of each ofwhich parts is shown as covered, under the present invention, with alayer or surface of flock, at, indicated in drawing by a heavy and thickblack line.

I am aware that the soles of boots and shoes have been covered withpaper for the purpose of concealing the stitches, pegging, and nailing.Such I do not claim; but,

Having thus described my invention, I shall state my claim as follows:

A boot or shoe-sole having its outer or treading surface either in wholeor in part covered or coated w th a flock or disintegrated material,substantially as and for the purpose de scribed.

The above specification of my improved mode of finishing the soles ofboots and shoes signed by me this 23d day of November, 1871.

Witnesses: B. S. BRYANT.

ALBERT W. BROWN, EDWIN W. BROWN.

